Planetary Society announces solar sail plans
Posted: Wed, Nov 11, 2009, 7:13 AM ET (1213 GMT)
The Planetary Society announced Monday plans to fly as many as three solar sail missions in the coming years to demonstrate the technology behind the concept. The first of the three LightSail spacecraft is scheduled for launch in late 2010, although a specific launch vehicle has not been selected yet. The small spacecraft, based on CubeSat designs, will weigh about 5 kilograms at launch and deploy a 32-square-meter Mylar sail once in orbit. Future LightSail missions will demonstrate the ability to fly into higher orbits and, eventually, the Earth-Sun L-1 libration point. The program is being supported by a $1-million donation from an anonymous benefactor. The Planetary Society previously attempted a solar sail project, Cosmos 1, but the spacecraft was lost when its Russia Volna rocket failed to reach orbit in 2005.
The Planetary Society announced Monday plans to fly as many as three solar sail missions in the coming years to demonstrate the technology behind the concept. The first of the three LightSail spacecraft is scheduled for launch in late 2010, although a specific launch vehicle has not been selected yet. The small spacecraft, based on CubeSat designs, will weigh about 5 kilograms at launch and deploy a 32-square-meter Mylar sail once in orbit. Future LightSail missions will demonstrate the ability to fly into higher orbits and, eventually, the Earth-Sun L-1 libration point. The program is being supported by a $1-million donation from an anonymous benefactor. The Planetary Society previously attempted a solar sail project, Cosmos 1, but the spacecraft was lost when its Russia Volna rocket failed to reach orbit in 2005.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Sunday, February 23
AAC Clyde Space presents INFLECION: Safer Oceans, Smarter Shipping, and Greener Future
AAC Clyde Space — 1:45 pm ET (1845 GMT) European Commission Supports Atmos With €13.1 Million EIC Funding
Atmos Space Cargo — 1:44 pm ET (1844 GMT) Welcoming Head of Product to Dominate Innovation Across Navigation and Autonomy
Advanced Navigation — 1:42 pm ET (1842 GMT) Mystery of 'remarkable' cosmic explosion that lay hidden for years
Royal Astronomical Society — 1:41 pm ET (1841 GMT) DESI Uncovers 300 New Intermediate-Mass Black Holes Plus 2500 New Active Black Holes in Dwarf Galaxies
National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory — 1:40 pm ET (1840 GMT) |
